VETERANS SERVICES

Service Members Opportunity Colleges

Southwest Georgia Technical College is dedicated to providing excellent customer service to our veterans, current military, and their dependents. Our goal is to assist veterans, current service personnel and/or their dependents with meeting their educational needs. We assist our students with certifying enrollment at SWGTC and advise students on proper procedures regarding their educational benefits. Although we do not determine eligibility for VA benefits, with your assistance, our office is here to assist you with certifying your enrollment to VA in an accurate and timely manner. This page is designed to provide you with information you may need to be a successful student at Southwest Georgia Technical College.

Service Members Opportunity College

Southwest Georgia Technical College is a member of the Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium comprised of more than 1700 colleges and universities. SOC Consortium members subscribe to principles and criteria to ensure that quality academic programs are available to service members, including members of the National Guard and Coast Guard, their family members, reservists, and veterans of all Services. As a SOC Consortium member, this institution ensures that military students share in appropriately accredited postsecondary educational opportunities available to other citizens. Flexibility of programs and procedures, particularly in admissions, counseling, credit transfer, course articulations, recognition of non-traditional learning experiences, scheduling, course format, and residency requirements are provided to enhance access of service members and their family members to higher education programs.

For more information on the SOC Consortium and a full list of consortium schools, visit www.soc.aascu.org.

Educational Benefits

Former service personnel, current military service members, and their dependents may be eligible for education benefits provided by Veterans Affairs. Southwest Georgia Technical College has staff available in the Financial Aid Office to help you understand and maximize the benefits you’ve earned. For specific information about your GI Bill education benefits, visit www.benefits.va.gov/benefits call 1-888-GI-Bill (1-888-442-4551).

Apply

If this is your initial claim for educational benefits, you will need to complete an Application for Benefits (VA form 22-1990). The Department of Veteran Affairs has provided veterans and current military service members an online version of the application through eBenefits. Visit www.ebenefits.va.gov to register for a premium account and apply for your educational benefits. The website gives you the opportunity to track your eligibility for any benefits received from VA.

You are also able to print the Application for Benefits (VA form 22-1990) through www.benefits.va.gov/benefitsor visit a local Georgia Department of Veterans Service for assistance with completing the VA form 22-1990.

Once you have been approved by the VA Processing Center, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Please submit a copy of the COE to our office. We will use the certificate to certify your enrollment so you are able to begin receiving your benefits.

Change of Program/Place of Training

If you are changing your program major, you will need to complete a Request for Change of Program or Change of Place of Training form (VA Form 22-1995/VA Form 22-5495 for Chapter 35).

If you have already been approved for VA educational benefits and decide to transfer the benefits to our institution, you will need to complete a Request for Change of Program or Change of Place of Training form (VA Form 22-1995/VA Form 22-5495 for Chapter 35).

To obtain a copy of the Request for Change of Program or Change of Place of Training form, please come by our office or visit www.benefits.va.gov/benefits to download the form. Once you have completed the form, drop it by the Financial Aid Office at SWGTC.

Certification of Enrollment

Once our office has determined your eligibility for education benefits, our School Certifying Official (SCO) will verify your enrollment at Southwest Georgia Technical College and submit a certification to the VA Regional Office. It is important you notify the SCO when you have registered for courses at the beginning of each semester. This will ensure your benefits are processed in a timely manner.

Enrollment Status Changes and Withdrawals

It is your responsibility, as a student, to notify SWGTC School Certifying Official immediately of any changes in your enrollment status, program of study, place of training, etc. These changes may impact your eligibility for VA benefits.